IOC likely to drop wrestling from Olympics in 2020 - KXLT - Fox 47 Rochester MN News, Weather and Sports

GRAND MEADOW, Minn. (FOX 47)- In an announcement that is shocking many Olympic fans, the International Olympic Committee is likely to drop wrestling from the 2020 summer games. Wrestling is one of the longest-lasting sports in the games and an event the U.S. has seen great success in.

It is not unprecedented that the IOC would drop a sport from the games, but the idea that wrestling could be no longer in the game's top 25 list is very surprising, especially to those who tried out for the Olympic games in wrestling.

Jim Richardson is the assistant coach for Grand Meadow-Leroy-Ostrander-Kingsland. He qualified for the Olympic trials in 1988 and 1992 and has a lengthy history with wrestling. When KTTC spoke with Richardson this afternoon, he was still in shock at the news.

"Obviously one of the oldest sports known to mankind and one of the original sports at the Olympics. I almost would think that wrestling is one of the foundation blocks of the Olympics, so it comes as a big surprise."

Richardson has been a part of the wrestling community for the majority of his life and is disappointed that others across the country and the world may not be able to reach the ultimate goal of an Olympic gold.

"It takes the luster out of that training, the "dream" part of it. As a small child, I wanted to be an Olympic gold medalist like Dan Gable. He trained for the gold, you dream about the gold, and it takes that luster out of it."

The United States has 124 total medals from Wrestling, including 2 golds from the London games. There is still a chance that wrestling may be included in future games with one last vote coming up in the fall. Heavyweight names like Dan Gable and Cael Sanderson are still fighting hard to save it.

IOC officials are not looking favorably at the possibility of its inclusion as of now.